Flint, Michigan Factory History

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Early Buick Test Track

The photo (at the top) is a drawing from a Buick magazine of the first Buick test track, from a 1916 publication. This is the future site of the train shed #02, looking southwest with the forge shop #03 (at right) then #06 and #01 off to the left. The photo below is of Division street. You will notice the former Mott factory, which became Buick factory #34 built in 1909, with just a glimpse of the Imperial Wheel factory at the right. You are looking north east across the Pere Marquette tracks. This looks like a finished chassis heading for the test track. At that time the body’s were added after testing on the track, (to make sure the running gear was performing correctly) and to keep from damaging the body or fenders on the dirt track.